and washington working together, negotiating on this bill and what happened in newtown. but in middle america, nothing happens in a bubble. people are still shattered by that. and anybody that is dragging their feet, fighting, seeming petty less than a week after -- i'm sorry, this is the worst tragedy i can think of as far as just shattering the soul of this country. i say since 9/11, in my lifetime. 9/11 and this. then i guess you'd have to go back to kennedy's assassination. i can't believe how shaken -- people are just talking about this all the time. they're looking at washington squabbling over numbers. and since they've already decided on the big issues, they're just thinking, they're so dysfunctional. and whoever gets the blame for this, it's in big trouble politically. >> no question. and it's not just on the fiscal stuff. it's on other things, too. i mean, you know, i thought your incredibly eloquent statement last week reflects what a lot of people feel including a lot of people who have had reservations before about doing something. that fight's just about to begin. the high water